Teas and T's: Casino Trip, Day One, 11-10-2019

Thoughts and Quotes: Travel. . . . . .

As much as you can

As far as you can

As long as you can

Life is not meant to be lived in one place

Unknown Author

My friend David from Ohio arrived on Saturday, and Sunday we met Brother Bill in Springfield at the pickup spot for a trip with Sunnyland Tours to Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, with a side trip to Grapevine, Texas.

But before we board the bus, I need to apologize to Bill. In my last post, I said that he probably hadn't even opened the book from The Hermitage. In fact, he had already read it cover to cover. Mea Culpa.

And a thank you to David for the beautiful teapot and footed dish he brought me. David is not only downsizing, he's zero sizing. Sold the house with all the furnishings except the antiques (to be sold), loaded his personal belongings into his SUV, is traveling all the places he missed and some he wants to revisit, will sell his car, take some cruises, and end up in Honolulu to establish a new permanent residence. How's that for bravery?!

I can just see this filled with strawberries on the tea table.

And have you ever seen a sweeter teapot?

And a thank you to Jill Kittysitter for all the photos of my brat cats. I don't know how she does it, but she can get them to pose. I think she missed her calling. She should be a pet photograther.

Okay, we're off to Thackerville, Oklahoma, which is just above the Texas border, so a long drive. The casino is huge and divided into cities down the middle with shops and restaurants along the sides. You start at London, pass through Madrid, Rome, Beijing, Paris, Vienna, Cairo, New York, and end up at the Poker Room and Bingo Parlor. Walking from London to the Poker Room is 1-1/2 miles, so a 3-mile round trip.

The two black blobs are the event center and the convention center.

Each city has a round bar in the middle with a statue on top, plus another circle with a statue and a decorated ceiling. There are beverage stations (free fountain soft drinks, coffee and tea) in each city, which I found fascinating, as they hid them so cleverly instead of just placing them along the walls. Many were under the decorated ceiling circles. My photos aren't great, as no flash.

London

Yes, that's a fountain at the bottom.

Notice the sign to the self serve beverage station, which is under the lion.

Madrid

Rome

Here's a better view of a drink station.

Beijing

The dragons and ball were very glittery. Stunning.

Paris

The restaurants looked like Paris, but were Italian and Mexican.

Paris was a tiny little patisserie.

When we turned the corner, the cities became less impressive. No more round bars after Vienna; just one huge square bar. No more painted ceilings.

Vienna

Cairo

New York

The carpet patterns vary thoughout, and in the casino there are paths to help you navigate.

Fun slot machines. Here are a few photos I took before they told me I couldn't.

Singin' in the Rain (scenes from the movie play on the top tv screen and sound is included).

Casa Blanca

And the top of Willie Wonka. They stopped me before I got a photo of the little train which runs around the top.

Our first night was my aunt's birthday, so I looked for a place she would have liked, and found The Terrace View Cafe. She would have loved it.

Our booth.

Of course, you knew there would be food pictures. We had lunch on the way at Cracker Barrel (Fried Turkey Breast - the Fried Chicken is better), so we weren't very hungry. In keeping with the world theme, Bill and I had French Dip Sandwiches (the best I've ever eaten). As this was a birthday celebration, we had to have dessert. I had Fried Cheesecake, which tasted better than it looked.